Sky customers get BBC iPlayer

There’s no stopping the spread of the BBC iPlayer service across
multiple plaforms as plans to bring the video-on-demand channel to Sky
boxes in the homes of five million UK customers has now been given the
go ahead.

The deal between the BBC and Sky ensures that the iPlayer will be
available via the Sky+ Anytime tab later on this year.

Having launched an International version of the iPlayer in 2010, the
video-on-demand service is now available on a wide range of platforms,
including Virgin Media, BT Vision, FreeSat, Freeview, Sony PlayStation.
Nintendo Wii, and hundreds of mobile phones, tablets, and
Internet-connected TVs.

BBC iPlayer has proven hugely popular with UK audiences since launching
in 2007, delivering a record two billion TV and radio programmes in
2011. The latest report also reveals 1.5 million installs on the Apple iPad
and 1.2 million installs on Android devices since the service launched
the app in February 2011. An iPhone app also launched in December 2011.

Currently, those who watch only the iPlayer are exempt from the BBC TV
licence fee, but with the service becoming increasingly popular and
available across a wide range of Internet-enabled devices, the
Department for Culture, Media and Sport is looking at ways in which it
could impose the fee.

The BBC isn’t so concerned, telling the The Guardian that only a small
percentage of its viewers use only the iPlayer. "We believe the current
system works very efficiently and do not see a need to change its scope
at present," said a spokesperson for the channel.

However, the governing body is concerned that as catch-up TV becomes
increasingly popular and more widely available users may decide to do
all their TV watching online and therefore escape the licence fee
completely.

The BBC is also brainstorming plans to charge viewers of its iPlayer
service for accessing archived content. The current service lets
licence fee payers watch programmes for free up to seven days after
they’ve aired on TV. However, the BBC may charge those who want to
access content prior to that period.

For the time being though, sit back and enjoy the BBC iPlayer entirely
for free because those plans aren’t likely to be put into place until
2016, when the BBC’s Royal Charter is set to be renewed.

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Currently, those who watch *only* the iPlayer are exempt from the BBC TV licence fee, but with the service becoming increasingly popular and available across a wide range of Internet-enabled devices, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is looking at waysin which it could impose the fee.

The BBC isn’t so concerned, telling the The Guardian that only a small percentage of its viewers use *only* the iPlayer. “We believe the current system works very efficiently and do not see a need to change its scope at present,” said a spokesperson for the channel.

I think you might be missing a couple of ‘only’s there, which change the meaning entirely ;)

BBC iPlayer has proven hugely popular with UK audiences since launching in 2007, delivering a record two billion TV and radio programmes in 2011. The latest report also reveals 1.5 million installs on the Apple iPad and 1.2 million installs on Android devices since the service launched the app in February 2011.

Wasn't that impressed with the iPlayer app on Android - on the tablet at least all it seems to do is launch the webbrowser to point at www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer in which case it's not really an “app” more a “shortcut”.

Also less than impressed when I tried to operate it when connected via a 3G hotspot - the app gave me a warning that "you are attempting to use iPlayer over a mobile network“, but then didn't give me an option to say ”that's fine - I know what I'm doing". Which given I just wanted to listen to a radio programme and had a 500MB data allowance, seemed reasonable. Stupid app just refused point blank to cooperate. :mad:

crossyWasn't that impressed with the iPlayer app on Android - on the tablet at least all it seems to do is launch the webbrowser to point at www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer in which case it's not really an “app” more a “shortcut”.

Also less than impressed when I tried to operate it when connected via a 3G hotspot - the app gave me a warning that "you are attempting to use iPlayer over a mobile network“, but then didn't give me an option to say ”that's fine - I know what I'm doing". Which given I just wanted to listen to a radio programme and had a 500MB data allowance, seemed reasonable. Stupid app just refused point blank to cooperate. :mad:

I read somewhere you can work round this by setting your phone up as a mobile hotspot and connecting to itself via wifi? Never tried it but might be a worth a go?